Husband, father, actor and traveller are roles Canadian actor, Yannick Bisson, relishes.

Six seasons playing Detective William Murdoch in the hit CBC Television series Murdoch Mysteries has made Yannick Bisson a sought-after actor not only in Canada but worldwide.

Bisson feels fortunate to have acted with everyone from Kevin Spacey, Richard Dreyfuss, Della Reese, Olympia Dukakis and Rob Lowe to even being in the same film for the last appearance of the legendary Frank Sinatra in the movie Young at Heart. While Bisson loves playing Detective Murdoch, one role he covets more than any is already taken—James Bond.

Despite playing a well-dressed and dashing detective Bisson likes nothing better than to get down and dirty—on the mountain-bike trails that is. From the wilds of British Columbia to the cloud forests of Costa Rica, Bisson craves the thrill of racing on his mountain bike.

As an actor, Bisson has travelled far and wide for various movies and TV series and even lived in New Zealand for a year while filming the High Tide television series. His passport has its share of stamps and Bisson savours every one for what it represents—an opportunity to experience another culture.

His biggest passion however is his family—actress wife Chantal Craig and their three daughters, Brianna, Dominique and Mikaela. Husband and father are two roles Bisson enjoys and will never give up.

Why do you travel?

It’s important to get out of your comfort zone and travel is extremely important for that reason alone. It creates empathy, understanding and wisdom through experience. One of the things they say about travel is it gives you a new perspective on other places in the world but it also provides insight on where you come from. I don’t think I’ll ever stop travelling. 

What’s your most memorable vacation?

When I was 16 or 17 I landed a job, which brought me out to B.C. for the first time. I experienced the mountains and the old-growth trees and I was just blown away by this place that forged right down into the ocean. I always remember that fondly. 

What’s your favourite spot in Canada?

I  enjoy Vancouver the most. As an avid mountain biker, I head out to Whistler or with my buddies to the North Shore. Downhill mountain biking is such a full adrenalin ride.  

What’s your “must have” travel item?

I have a foam roller I must use. You see them sometimes in yoga classes. I use it to roll out the kinks from travelling and it’s indispensable. It actually works and weighs next to nothing.

What is your dream destination?

Since we shoot the series during the summer, I can’t travel at all during the season. However I would like to go to the French, Austrian and Italian Alps, as well as the Dolomites and just spend time mountain biking in the summertime.

Where do you holiday the most?

I definitely like Paris any time of year. It’s so lovely and you can just walk around, eat as much as you want in a week and still lose weight.

Can you ever see yourself on an intergalactic trip to the moon?

I can’t say I haven’t thought about it, but I can’t sit still for very long. So if the trip took more than seven hours, then probably not.